How To Squeeze In 10 Minutes For YOU Every Day

10 minutes can be easily wasted, but on a crazy busy day, finding even this little time for yourself can feel like an impossible task. Your favourite blogger might write about taking an hour ‘self-care’ every day, but for most, this is completely unrealistic on a daily basis. However, you can’t give from a cup half full, so it’s still important to prioritise you-time, no matter how short that might be. No idea where to start? Here’s our top tips on squeezing at least 10 minutes into your day…

Start With A Good Breakfast

Nothing kicks off the day on a good note like a cracking breakfast. Instead of grabbing a bowl of cereal whilst you check your emails, but your phone done and whip up a proper breakfast. You only need 10 minutes to enjoy an epic stack of protein pancakes, and you’ll feel so much better for taking some time for you before the world starts asking for favours

 

Take Advantage Of Your Tea Break?

Most of us can easily lose 10 minutes procrastinating in the office kitchen, so instead of having a gossip, side-step the crowds and actually sit down and read a magazine or catch up on some blogposts. It’s a great way to give your brain a break in the middle of the day, without losing much time away from the desk. We've even got 10 awesome sweet treat recipes for you to enjoy alongside... 

 

Use Your Commute

How many times have you commuted into work just staring into space with a glum look on your space? Commute time is time you can't avoid where it's not always possible to answer emails or texts. So, grab a book, tune into a podcast or plug in a chill-out playlist and take advantage. It’s also a great distractor from the joy of being sandwiched between your fellow, sweaty commuters…

 

Wake Up 15 Minutes Earlier

A mere 15 minutes won’t make a difference to your energy levels (we promise!) but it will actually give you a little more time to do some self-care. It could be a morning stretch, a quick 10-minute HIIT workout or just taking time to drink your coffee and relax before the day’s madness kicks off.

 

Get Outside

Don’t have time for a lunch break? We’d love you to change your mind, as taking a midday break has been shown to make you MORE productive in the afternoon, but if you can’t be convinced, at least take the opportunity to get outside. Head somewhere 5/10 minutes away to grab lunch, so by the time you get back to the office, you’ve had a nice walk outside to let your brain wander away from your work.

 

Take 10 Before Bed

Similar to the above, most of us can spare 10 minutes before getting into bed. With nothing left on your to do list, take a few moments to stretch, journal or jus take a few deep breaths and reset after a hectic day. It’s the little things that can make all the difference to your mental wellbeing. 

 

Stop Scrolling

Still struggling to make time? It might be time to look at your screen time. It’s easier said than done, but for so many of us, this is a cause of wasted time. Limit your mindless time on social media to set times of the day and do the same with emails too. By having strict barriers around tech, you’ll be amazed at how of your day suddenly frees up!

 

Get Organised / Schedule it into your diary

Make it something you HAVE to do, like attending that meeting with your boss or making it to your doctor’s appointment. Otherwise it will just get pushed further and further from your to do list… until it falls straight off the bottom.

 

When Doing So, Be Specific

Instead of just writing “me time” in your diary, try and get specific. Are you going to spend 15 minutes reading with a coffee, or fit in a quick at home yoga flow? When it’s an actual activity you need to do, it’s a lot harder to bail on it completely.

 

Learn To Say No

If you want more time for yourself, learning the skill of saying no is key. If you’re constantly doing favours for people at the office or agreeing to plans that you don’t want to go to, then try to flex your ability to politely decline. It might feel a little rude at first, but done in an honest and kind manner, all you’re doing is prioritising your own needs.  

 

Similarly, Let Go Of Control

There’s times in life where things spiral out of control, and you’ll get to a point where you need to accept the fact that you can’t do everything. Your to do list will never truly be ‘finished’ (sorry!) and your sanity is more important than replying to emails at 9pm. Your boss can wait till the morning so you can have 10 minutes to focus on yourself!